Chapter 245: Chapter 245: Female Commander

Xiang Ying raised her hand, her movements slow and deliberate. Embedded in her tied-up hair bun was a black jade hairpin that gently swayed with her movements.

“Lord Garrison Commander, if I didn’t use those grains and medicinal herbs, how could I have treated your illness?”

“You should have told me about it. Now you’ve occupied my house, and with so many people coming in and out, it disrupts my life. I demand you move out within three days!”

Dark brilliance flowed in Xiang Ying’s phoenix eyes as she chuckled with her red lips, calm and unruffled.

“Want us to leave? Fine, then regurgitate all the medicine you’ve swallowed.”

“How dare you! Xiang Ying, remember I am the City Garrison Commander.”

Xiang Ying suddenly slammed the table, startling the City Garrison Commander.

But she stood fierce and imposing, with the overwhelming presence of a superior.

“You’ve been embezzling the city’s food and medicinal herbs, and I haven’t even settled this account with you. Yet, you intend to abandon me after you recover? I’m telling you, just as I can cure you, I can make you sick again.”

The City Garrison Commander had not expected her to be so brazen!

He glared with wide eyes: “You dare disrespect me?”

Xiang Ying snorted: “I am the Commander appointed by the Sixth Prince. Everyone, including you, must follow my orders. If you’re unhappy, go talk to him.”

“You! Fine, just wait. I’ll see if the Sixth Prince will tolerate your nonsense!” He stormed off in a huff.

Xiang Ying glanced at his retreating figure and sneered: “Ignore him, let’s continue.”

…

The residence was swept of snow every day. When the City Garrison Commander walked towards the courtyard where the Sixth Prince resided, he found that his shoes were not even slightly wet.

It was said that people were sweeping every half hour to earn some points, and the snow was scraped off the ground as soon as it fell, never accumulating.

He looked at his shoes and had to admit that Xiang Ying was a competent woman. Unfortunately, her capability could not supersede his interests.

He went straight to the Sixth Prince’s door.

“Your Highness, you must stand up for me. That Xiang Ying, flaunting your name, has been tyrannical in my residence. I just wanted her to move out, and she blatantly spewed nonsense, even saying it was by your command…”

The City Garrison Commander knelt down and felt cold after a while, quietly padding his knees with his clothes.

After his lengthy complaint, the door was finally opened by someone from inside.

Qianqian blocked half her face as she stood at the doorway: “My lord, His Highness has a message for you.”

The City Garrison Commander looked up eagerly: “What did His Highness say? Is he going to throw that sinful girl, Xiang Ying, into jail immediately?”

Qianqian shook her head: “His Highness said if you keep up this moaning, he’d throw you into a well. Without his order, Xiang Ying need not move, and you should not disturb her.”

The City Garrison Commander gaped in disbelief.

“His Highness… really said that? But…”

Before he could finish, a hoarse and fierce shout came from inside.

“Get out!”

The City Garrison Commander then confirmed it was indeed the Sixth Prince’s order, and he scurried away in total disgrace.

Qianqian closed the door and cautiously returned to the Sixth Prince.

Inside, a roaring coal fire warmed the room like spring; the Sixth Prince lay on the bed in a thin inner garment, looking distinctly uncomfortable.

He placed a hand on his forehead, gritting his teeth: “Is Xiang Ying doing this deliberately? Why has everyone else recovered, yet after ten days, my illness shows no improvement?”

“Every day, I feel better for a couple of hours only after taking the medicine she brings. Then, the pain returns. Is she really treating me earnestly?”

Qianqian dampened a cloth and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“Your Highness, as long as you rest well, you will gradually get better.”

Suddenly, the Sixth Prince opened his pitch-black eyes, staring intently at her.

Xiang Qianqian felt shivers run down her spine from his gaze.

“Your Highness… Why are you looking at Qianqian like that?”

“Your relationship with Xiang Ying seems quite poor. Could it be that she is intentionally torturing me by refusing to treat [my illness] properly because of you?”

Xiang Qianqian turned pale and immediately knelt on the ground: “Your Highness, there has never been such a thing! Although Big Sister disdains Qianqian, it is because back when we were in the palace, Qianqian’s mother was favored, and the Empress was not.”

“Big Sister has always been comparative with concubines, and once she had the opportunity, of course, she would not tolerate Qianqian.”

As she spoke, accompanied by sobs, her frail shoulders trembled slightly.

“In this world, only Your Highness treats Qianqian well.”

However, such words clearly did not move the Sixth Prince.

He was not a man to be easily hooked by Xiang Qianqian’s little schemes.

The Sixth Prince narrowed his eyes.

“If I were to execute you and send your corpse to Xiang Ying as a gesture of my stance, tell me, would the past grievances between Her Highness and myself be wiped clean?”

Xiang Qianqian widened her eyes: “No… please no, Your Highness, keep me, I am still of use!”

The Sixth Prince scoffed: “What use are you?”

“I… I can pass on news as I have placed my own people by Xiang Ying’s side. When the time comes, I will surely be of use to Your Highness.”

When she said this, the Sixth Prince sat up with interest and seriously considered her.

“Your own people? Are you sure they can be relied upon?”

“Sure, and so far, Xiang Ying has not noticed, so, Your Highness, you must keep me because only I know how to harm Xiang Ying.”

The Sixth Prince pursed his lips: “Actually, I am not necessarily set on targeting her, but having such a formidable woman by Jie Chen’s side as his support is a disadvantage to me.”

Seeing him lie back down to start planning how to counter Jie Chen’s power, Xiang Qianqian secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She walked to the outer room and slowly sat down, only to realize her hands were still trembling.

Turning towards the copper mirror, the clear reflection showed the burn scar beneath her chin. A trace of ruthlessness flashed through Xiang Qianqian’s eyes.

It seems she could not entirely rely on the Sixth Prince anymore…

*

Night fell.

Xiang Ying finally had a moment to rest.

She leaned on a recliner, and Jie Chen stood behind her, his well-defined large palms kneading her delicate neck and shoulders.

“Are you very tired?” he asked.

Xiang Ying, with her eyes closed, her voice buzzing, sounding like a lazy, coquettish little fox.

“Tired, so I’ll only rest tonight.”

Jie Chen paused: “I’m not here for that.”

Xiang Ying burst out laughing, sitting up: “I’m just teasing you, how do you always fall for it?”

Jie Chen’s dark eyes looked at her, his red lips parting with a smile, bending softly, and soft to kiss.

Just as the two were about to engage in intimate conversation, the voice of Xiang Rongrong came from the doorway.

“Big Sister, are you available right now? I have brought someone to see you.”

Jie Chen immediately helped Xiang Ying tighten her clothes, covering the bright allure of her shoulders and neck.

Xiang Ying gave him a glowing look and said to the outside: “Come in.”